Two victories in one day: A federal jury in Tennessee affirms that shackling during labor violates women’s rights, and the Virginia Department of Corrections announces that it will no longer engage in the practice.

More women—two-thirds of whom are mothers—are behind bars today than at any other point in U.S. history. But federal and state laws and regulations fail to ensure humane treatment of pregnant women and mothers.

Given the consensus that shackling pregnant women is not only unnecessary but also degrading, it was a shock to find out this morning that Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill passed by the California Legislature to end shackling of pregnant women in his state.